Gate 403 Bar & Grill

Great that they have live jazz music. The curry coconut ratatouille was delicious and priced fair. They only had one server when I went but service was still very quick.

This is a terrific restuarant with amazing music. Everyone who loves Jazz music should come here to try the music and the food which is beyond my expectation !

Laid-​back non-​pretentious atmosphere. The venue is a bit small for everyone to see the performers but the atmosphere is intimate and homey!

A lovely evening out.
I would suggest reservations… particularly since visibility to the live acts is limited.
However it is a nice place to explore if you are in the area and enjoy jazz, blues and folk music.
If you’re down in the area, give me a heads up… I’d be happy to try and connect with you.

The Gate has good and bad points, but every experience I’ve had here has been positive. I gotta urge ya to sit at the bar; it’s often a rewarding experience, had a great conversation every time. The music is often excellent, and it’s really the reason you go, though the placement of the stage doesn’t work well — it’s too close to the bar, so it’s hard to walk between the bar and the larger tables in the back. Frankly it gets inordinately loud, so beware.
Beer prices are excellent (usually $ 2 below the Local across the street) and they know how to mix drinks — most of the time. The food is nothing to write home about, but I’m there for music, company, and drinks, so I don’t mind.

when i am in the area this is one of my favorite places to stop by and chat with friends, The atmosphere is relaxed, the food is good and if you are there on a friday or saturday night the music is intoxicating. Even though i have not lived in the area for a decade, i still return every chance i get.

So far, this is the best place I have found to hear jazz on a Saturday night in Toronto. You can still hear your conversation or you can focus on the music. The drinks are great (as is the service). Plus, it is a short walk south from the subway. I’m eager to try the food – it looks good.

First time back here in over a year — was very pleased with the new menu (turns out there’s a new chef in town); food was really good and the live music was as lively and entertaining as I remembered. Definitely recommend for a Friday night out (food + entertainment).

Let me be clear, you come here for the music and vibe – not the food or service. Casual drinks or a date its a great spot. However, if you are planning on having dinner this is not the place. Very few waitstaff so the service is slow, even when they are around they are not attentive. Who brings over two waters for a table of four? food is typical bar fare and it is mediocre at best. If this place didnt have live music I really couldnt see a reason to come here unless i was desperate for a pint.

Great place, great service! Live music daily!

Definitely wouldn’t recommend the food here.
Drinks are a fair price.
Music isn’t bad on weekends.
Service started out amazing but by the end of the night we had to pay with another waitress as our original disappeared into the night.
Overall — not terrible, but not amazing either.

Awesome place! I used to basically live here Tuesday nights for Julian Fauth!
I held a business christmas party here and was taken care of BIG TIME!!!
love the owner, barmaids and everything about this place…
Calamari? meh… its better for booze and tunes…

Gate 403 is the definition of your cozy local bar. Always has a great crowd and live music. Has a wonderful array of drinks with bartenders who are able to conjure up drinks with funny names on a whim. The fresh cut fries are my favorite. I would say this is one of the gems in Toronto if you are looking to hang out with friends over good drinks and food.

I am super surprised to be one of the very few 2 star reviews for this place…
As a place to grab drinks and listen to live music, I’d be willing to give this place a 3 star but the food and atmosphere were not the best.
I ordered the cheese Quesadillas (a commonly known safe bar food option in my opinion). It was very small for $ 9 price tag that came with it (three pieces) and every ingredient tasted like it came from a can (think pizza pocket!)
My friends ordered the garlic bread with cheese and the wings and again both of them said they were surprised about how bland the taste was.
My recommendation is eat before or after coming here and just come for the band…

I’ve been stopping in here for an after work drink quite frequently of late. First of all: they have an actual happy hour from monday to thursday, with the added bonus of half price appetizers til 6. My regular bartender Jasmine is top notch, and I’ve always found the music to be pleasant but not overwhelming in terms of sound level. Recommended.

This place is ok if you just want to chill and have a few drinks and listen to jazz. Be sure to make a reservation if you plan on going and be sure to be there on time and not a minute late because they will give away your table. The food is ok and the atmoshphere can be described as cozy if you like to sit at tables that are an inch apart.

A very talented and musical friend of mine was playing a jazzy show here and I rarely if ever pass up an invite to hear live music. Almost every day of the week at Gate 403 you’ll be sure to happen upon a few local jazz artists or bands who are simply playing their music for the love of it. Not only do I find this endearing, I also think it’s perfect for those who wish to support local talent in Toronto.
While Gate 403 is not a large space, it fits a nice crowd of people who are either there for the food or for the music. Both are safe bets if you ask me. Gate 403 is a mix between a pub and a piano bar and it seems to have something for everyone. Come in for the food and stay for the tunes, either way you’ll be happy you filled your ears and of course, your belly.

While waiting for a table at Barque we came across Gate 403. Is the 403 in reference to Calgary? Perhaps the owners are from out West?
There is live jazz nightly, though on this particular night (Friday night) they would only be on until 9PM.
There is no cover to see the band, but there is a tip jar. The bar itself has a good selection of beers (both on tap and bottled) and a list of cocktails and wines.
The music was pretty good. The crowd was mixed. You had couples, you had solo-​ers, and music lovers alike.
Can’t comment on the food as I didn’t have any.

We came here on a Sunday night for a live jazz performance and casual drinks. It wasn’t too busy so there was plenty of seating. The jazz band was situated right in the middle of the restaurant so you could sit infront or behind the band. No cover to see the band but they pass around a tip jar.
Service was friendly and quick. They have a good selection of beers on tap with pints ranging between $ 5 – 8, fancy coctails priced at $ 8.50 and house wine for $ 5/​glass.
Food menu has the basic pub food with a few entrees. I don’t know if I would come specifically to have a meal but it’s an option if we’re looking for snacks like nachos, fries or wings.

While I think that, overall, Gate 403 is a great bar, the above four stars is not for the bar as a whole, but for the bar on Tuesday Nights.
While Gate 403 has a revolving selection of live jazz, for free, every night of the week, Tuesdays are especially great, as they are the night Julian Fauth plays. Tuesdays have been, for the last few years, a regular destination for myself and many others on and off the Roncesvalles strip, due mostly to the fact that Julian’s style of blues (
, but this doesn’t really do the live setting justice) is so great for either letting sink into the background as a wonderful setting for conversation and drinking, or for sitting quietly at the bar and attending to.
Besides that the bar is notable mostly for great and friendly bartenders (except for Kate, who is really great and unfriendly), the fact that there is free music every night, and a good cast of nice regulars.